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How We Communicate Member listening preferences provide a clue


t used to be we picked up a telephone when we wanted to communicate with someone, or maybe we wrote a quick note or letter. Today email, social media and texting offer new ways to make contact in mere seconds. We are told this saves lots of time. As a parent of text-happy teens, I’d argue that much of the time saved is quickly redeposited into the online equivalent of a galactic black hole. Still, when we want to reach a particular person, we tend to pick the communication method that person prefers.


I


BY TERRY MATLOCK CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER


As a cooperative, Choctaw Electric must find ways to communicate with 26,000 members who differ in age, income level and lifestyle. It


survey told us that 58 percent of our members have Internet service with 41 percent of that number accessing the Internet via home computer. The remainder rely on a cell phone or use an iPad or tablet to get online.


“Your co-op board must weigh the cost of providing a new service or program against the number of members who will truly benefit. When costs are in line the majority of member’s needs, we tend to place it high on our priority list.”


is our responsibility to communicate with you about your co-op, and it is your responsibility to communicate with us if you need to report a problem or want to know about a particular service. There is no “one way” for this to happen, so CEC must rely on the methods with the greatest likelihood of success—namely telephone, email, the CEC website, local media, and your monthly newsletter, Inside Your Co-op.


A survey of CEC members last year revealed valuable information about “who we are” as a co-op. This demographic snapshot helps co-op employees and staff better understand the varying needs of our members. We keep this snapshot in mind when we make improvements to our services or add new programs. We also rely on it to help us determine the best way to reach you. For example, the 2013


The survey also told us that 80 percent of members prefer to get news about their co-op through the monthly newsletter. When asked what type of social media our members preferred— Facebook, Twitter, radio or newspaper— the majority (68 percent) picked the more traditional methods.


As time goes by, these figures are likely to change. In 2001, only 36.5 percent of CEC members enjoyed Internet service at home, a statistic that prompted CEC to work to bring broadband


Internet to our more remote areas. Such decisions aren’t made willy-nilly. Your co-op board must weigh the cost of providing a new service or program against the number of members who will truly benefit. When costs are in line with meeting the majority of member’s needs, we tend to place it high on our priority list.


This mindset guides all co-op decisions, however, for members who find themselves in the minority, it can also be the most difficult to accept. In such situations, your co-op tries to be as accommodating as possible with respect to the needs of the majority. It’s not always perfect or satisfactory, however; it is democratic, and one of CEC’s founding principles. Every co-op member has a voice, but it is the wishes of the collective majority that must— and always—come first.


Choctaw Electric Cooperative BOARD OF TRUSTEES


Mike Bailey, President Bob Hodge, Vice President


Rodney Lovitt , Secretary Treasurer MEMBERS


Bill McCain Henry Baze Bob Holley


Buddy Anderson Joe Briscoe


Larry Johnson MANAGEMENT AND STAFF


Terry Matlock, Chief Executive Officer Susan G. Wall, Executive Assistant Jia Johnson, Director of Public Relations Tonia Allred, Benefits Specialist


Jimmie K. Ainsworth, Director of Finance and Accounting


Jim Malone, Director of Operations Darrell Ward, District Supervisor


HUGO OFFICE PO Box 758 Hwy 93 North


Hugo, Oklahoma 74743


Toll Free: (800) 780-6486 Local: (580) 326-6486 FAX (580) 326-2492


Monday-Friday • 8 am - 5 pm IDABEL OFFICE


2114 SE Washington Idabel, Oklahoma 74745


Toll Free: (800) 780-6486 Local: (580) 286-7155


Monday-Friday • 8 am - 5 pm


ANTLERS OFFICE HC 67 Box 62


Antlers, Oklahoma 74523 (One mile east of Antlers)


Toll Free: (800) 780-6486 Local: (580) 298-3201


Monday-Friday • 8 am - 5 pm On the Web:


www.choctawelectric.coop


24 Hour Outage Hotline 800-780-6486


inside•your•co-op | 3


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